Latin America Leadership Program

The program kicked off with four weeks of online instruction before bringing participants together at Georgetown University for six weeks of interactive in-person workshops, lectures, and site visits around Washington, D.C. The virtual sessions met three times a week and featured lectures on topics ranging from Globalization, Competitiveness, and Governability to Emotional Intelligence and to Ethics in AI. 

Through project strategy workshops with Lizze Lee and Alejandra Moreno as well as Business Model Canvas feedback sessions with Ricardo Terán, the virtual component gave participants the opportunity to advance their initiatives while equipping them with new tools and frameworks to challenge their thinking and strengthen their projects. Participants also engaged with the GCL alumni and broader community through sessions such as a chat with Nicolás Albertoni (GCL 2012), Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, and a conversation with Yael Marciano (Strathos Consulting and LALP Advisory Committee Member) on strategic alliances for LATAM. Throughout the program, participants met weekly with their assigned mentors – GCL alumni who offered career advice, content feedback, and hands-on guidance throughout the development of their projects.

"Even in the virtual format, the program offered high-quality classes and inspiring content. The flexibility to adapt our agendas without compromising the learning experience was essential, and it showed how well-designed the program was." - Laís Rocha, GCL 2025, Brazil

Upon arriving at the Georgetown University campus, the 30 participants met each other in person for the first time. After an orientation and campus tour guided by the LALP team, they dove right into lectures and programming. The in-person component offered exposure to a wide array of Georgetown’s renowned faculty – from experts in business, government, communication, and even music. Each lecture was thoughtfully crafted to provide the GCL cohort with the skills they need to be effective leaders and change multipliers. The cohort also took full advantage of Washington, DC’s unique location, visiting a diverse range of organizations including Microsoft, Halcyon, the OAS, IDB and Gallup. Finally, they volunteered for an afternoon at Cornerstone Schools.

The cohort presented their final projects in a pitch format on April 1st to a renowned panel of experts, including judges from the IDB Invest, Halcyon House, and Georgetown Americas Institute. This pitch day reflected the powerful multiplier effect these participants are creating—amplifying social impact to influence their communities, the broader region, and beyond through tangible, scalable projects. Their projects exemplified how there is a space for individuals to develop their passions into social impact, and apply their expertise to make the world a better place.

During the culmination day on April 2nd, five standout projects from the cohort were showcased in front of the LALP Advisory Committee and other esteemed guests: 

• Ailén Remelsky of Argentina with GirlUp Community, an initiative that leverages data-driven campaigns and authentic brand engagement to amplify girls’ voices in decision-making and social equity efforts.
• Daniela Rojas Arroyo of Mexico with ExplorIA, an AI literacy pilot program bringing foundational AI education to public elementary schools in Mexico, aiming to empower the next generation through equitable, scalable, and government-aligned digital learning.
• Francela Geovana Rivas Lopez of Nicaragua with Cosecha Partners, which empowers rural smallholder farmers through data-driven innovation, digital traceability, and regenerative practices to drive prosperity, transparency, and sustainable impact across Central America.
• María Eugenia González Panuncio of Uruguay with Gina, a secure platform delivering anonymized sexual education and reproductive health access for Latin American teens.
• Pedro Carneiro of Brazil with ACE Ventures, which bridges the funding gap for Brazilian entrepreneurs by offering innovative, risk-tolerant private credit and strategic support to scale high-impact ventures beyond traditional VC limits.

These projects exemplify the innovation, leadership, and regional collaboration that the GCL program continues to foster year after year. Then, Felipe Paullier, recipient of the 2025 GCL Impact Award, received his prize and addressed the graduating cohort with closing remarks centered on his personal journey, his role as Assistant Secretary-General for Youth at the United Nations, and the values that GCL instills in its participants. He emphasized that one of the most essential takeaways from the program is the understanding of leadership as rooted in purpose.

“After so many years, this program has impacted countless individuals on a personal level. And now, as you join the alumni community, you’ll find strong support within it. You’ll see how others are creating impact and become part of a community that goes beyond the individual”. - Felipe Paullier, GCL 2017, GCL Impact Award Winner 2025

Immediately afterwards, Elizabeth Alhondra Arredondo Mier (GCL 2013), President of the GCL Alumni Network Board, delivered a compelling address to the graduating class. In her remarks, she underscored the significant responsibility inherent in leadership and the extraordinary potential each graduate now holds to drive meaningful change. Her message not only reinforced the core values of the GCL community but also served as a strategic reminder of the critical role these emerging leaders will play in advancing the program’s mission and fostering sustainable impact throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, and beyond.

Finally, as the GCL cohort came together one last time to receive their diplomas, Franco Galeano (Argentina) and Miyuki Kasahara (Dominican Republic) delivered remarks on behalf of their peers, reflecting on how the program had transformed them, inspired them, and united them as one—despite their diverse backgrounds. Professor Ricardo Ernst addressed the class one final time, highlighting the feasibility and scalability of the projects the cohort had presented. He issued a call to action, encouraging participants to continue being changemakers in their communities. He reminded them of the responsibility they have to take action and make the changes they believe relevant in the communities around them.

Congratulations to the GCL 2025 cohort — we look forward to witnessing the continued impact of your projects across the region and beyond!